Let’s Join Together To Strengthen Sint Maarten!The Government of Sint Maarten, under the Ministry of General Affairs, has embarked on a process for collective national visioning and National Development Planning, entitled, “Building a Nation: Sint Maarten National Development Plan and Institutional Strengthening.”

After the dismantling of the Netherlands Antilles on October 10, 2010, there was a need to re-establish and refine a national vision and build on the past in mind and the future in sight to create a more harmonious country, built on a strong foundation of ideals.

The responsibilities for such national development programming are that of the Department of the Interior and Kingdom Relations (BAK), which formulates, monitors, and evaluates policies not only for nation building but also for the overall development of Sint Maarten, including advancing relationships with the European Union,The United Nations, regional and international agencies and their Development Programs.

A team of experts for National Development is therefore fulltime committed to support the implementation of this project; drs. Andrea Ortega-Oudhoff, Senior Project Manager National Development, drs. Joeri Arion, Policy Advisor, drs.

Okama Ekpe Brook, Senior Policy Advisor, drs. Lucrecia Morales, Program Manager; and Tom Woods, Project Manager, from the United Nations Volunteer and United Nations Development Program.

Similar to the Multiannual Policy Plan of previous years, the National Development Plan will provide a strategic vision for Sint Maarten, a “shared national vision” and a document outlining future national development that will concentrate on development areas that will improve and advance the social, economic, cultural and environmental situation.

This consultation will take place firstly with Civil Servants, then via community based dialogues with the internal and external markets, public and private sectors, and social partners, amongst others.

Head of BAK, Marc Arnold said that all Civil Servants should look out for the planning sessions to give their input into forming the national vision. It is crucial to get your input, he said. The first information Workshop will be given in the first week of March. An official invitation letter will be sent to all Secretaries General to be shared with their Ministries.

a NatioNal DevelopmeNt visioN aND plaN for siNt maarteN

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

• Do you know The Importance of the Performance Management?

• New Faces• Civil servants participate in EU

funding course• VSA personnel receives certificate• Firefighters Celebrate 50 Years of

Existence• 6 civil servants celebrate 25 Years

of service• Department of Finance unveils

new uniforms

vol 1

the Department of Communication

This workshop aims to raise awareness and consult with various stakeholders and partners about the project’s implementation strategy, the formation of the working groups and the first steps to be taken to come to the first output of the project.

The aim of the national development project is multifaceted which includes:

• Develop a National Vision through a community dialogue process

• Formulate a National Development Plan through participatory methodology

• Outreach through multi-level Communication awareness campaign

• Train government officials in result-based management and evidence-based tools

• Develop a strategy for Millennium Development Goals (MDG)Acceleration Framework/country action plan and list initiatives to accelerate the MDGs

• Prepare the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) country report 2013

• Implement pilot projects related to MD goals related to poverty and environmental sustainability

• Produce a coordination mechanism on aid effectiveness and internal and external donor support

OFFICIAL PUBLIC HOLIDAYS 2013

New Year’s Day Tuesday January 1, 2013 Good Friday Friday March 29, 2013 Easter Sunday Sunday March 31 2013 Easter Monday Monday April 1, 2013 Carnival Day Monday April 29, 2013 Queen’s Birthday Tuesday April 30, 2013 Labour Day Wednesday May 1, 2013 Ascension Day Thursday May 9, 2013 Emancipation Day Monday July 1, 2013 St Maarten’s Day Monday November 11, 2013 Kingdom Day Sunday December 15, 2013 Christmas Day Wednesday December 25, 2013 Boxing Day Thursday December 26, 2013

Collective Prevention Services Health Observance Days 2013

April 7 World Health DayApril 12 STI AwarenessMay 31 World No Tobacco DayJune 5 World Environment DayJune 16 Men’s HealthAugust 1-7 World Breastfeeding weekSeptember 14 Caribbean Wellness Day October 1 International Day of Older PersonsOctober 10 World Mental Health Day October 16 World Food Day November 14 World Diabetes DayDecember 1 World Aids Day

WITH GOVERNMENT

Government News ProgramEvery Monday at 7pm

and Tuesday at 8:30amon TV15 Channel 115

March 8th 2013

The St. Maarten government uses a performance management method as a human resource management and development instrument, which is meant to monitor the performance of the entire Civil Service core—both management and employees.

The objective is not only to monitor but to also improve the efficiently and effectiveness of the operations. The performance management tool serves to scrutinize and supervise the functioning and development of management and employees’ productivity.

The aim is to use the skills of the civil service core optimally in order to achieve organizational goals, which, once achieved, will be awarded—individually—in the form of increased pay. There is a bonus for those employees who performed exceptionally for the year.

Three levels can be distinguished in the Performance Management system process:

1. The first level is defining and establishing the policy starting points.

2. The second level is formulating and establishing sector Performance Management (PM) contracts and budget.

3. The third level is formulating and establishing individual performance contracts.

For employees, the third factor, namely, the performance contracts, is most important for it affects them personally. There are three interviews held throughout the year. The first (Dec./Jan.) is the planning interview; the second (June), the mid-term assessment interview; and the third (Nov./Dec.), the assessment interview.

A planning interview is derived from the departmental performance management contract. In a planning interview plans will be agreed on about the performance and activities. In a mid-term assessment interview, the progress will be assessed and plans can be readjusted if necessary. In the assessment interview, the manager will assess the employee’s results, attitude and conduct.

The aim of the HR cycle is to assess employee’s performance objectively and systematically, in order to improve or optimize this performance for the benefit of the individual and the Government.

Employees are motivated to be efficient and productive, when they:

• Receive objective, structured and systematic feedback on their performance

• Are involved in the process in which it is determined which actions have to be taken in order to improve their performance

• Are able to develop themselves by: establishing training & coaching needs and personal development plans, career development and career coaching, can contribute to the organization’s self-learning ability, and are rewarded if they perform well individually.

This will result in job satisfaction for the individual.

More information is available from the Government’s website: sintmaartengov.org, or more specifically: http://pnobeleid.sharepoint.com/Pages/Handbook.aspx.

Do you kNow the importaNCe of the performaNCe maNagemeNt?

Name: Shannon Richardson

What is your official title? Researcher / Statistical Analyst B

When did you enter service? December 17, 2012

What are your responsibilities?

• Assisting in National Accounts data compilation and processing.

• Project assistant and coordinator of the Tourism expenditure surveys and data analysis.

• Assisting in various ongoing projects

What are your goals? Focusing on achieving my departmental and personal goals,

helping others achieve their fitness goals, and seeking out developmental adventures in life.

Educational background? BSc in Business Administration MSc in Business Administration

What are the lessons learnt while pursuing your education? The lessons learnt can be somewhat summarized in the following quotes; “Man in the Arena” and “Let Us Have Faith (1940).”

What are your hobbies? Physical sports (i.e. running, swimming, basketball, etc.), reading mainly non-fiction books, traveling, watching movies, and anime.

New faCes

Recently in Berlin, Germany, six civil servants took part in a course at the European Academy for Taxes, Economics and Law that explored methods to increase European Union (EU) funding.

Participants were sent from various Government Ministries and departments in an effort to acquire the necessary training, which allowed the participants to be train for the various components of acquiring EU funding and successfully managing the project based on EU policies and regulations.

On behalf of the government were: Soraya Agard, Policy Advisor, Education Department; Perry Geerlings, Director of the Cabinet of St Maarten’s Minister Plenipotentiary in the Hague; Lucy Richardson, Head of Department Economic Affairs, Transportation & Telecommunication, Leona Romeo-Marlin, Head of the Civil Registry Department; Veronica Jansen-Webster, Project Manager, BAK; and Carol Voges, Head of Finance and Economic Affairs, Cabinet of the Minister Plenipotentiary of St Maarten.

Civil servaNts partiCipate iN Course to explore eu fuNDiNg

Nine members from the personnel of the Ministry of Public Health, Labor, and Social Development, received their certificates for successfully completing a training course in Project management, offered by the municipality of Amsterdam, and taught by the Project and Advice Bureau (SPA).

The main areas of the training were: theory of project management, principals of effective project management, project organization and finances, intricacies of working as a project team, communication, negotiation, and conflicts. Participants in the course were program managers, project leaders, case workers, policy workers and district and other project employees within the Ministry of VSA. The name of the course is titled on the certificates as: “Project Management for the Social Sector of Sint Maarten.”

vsa persoNNel reCeives projeCt maNagemeNt CertifiCate

PHOTO CUTLINE: participating members of the group, from various countries linked to the EU, who took part in the EU Funding training exercise.

From left to right: Linda Froston (Labor), Cliff Pinedo (Public Health), Fleur Hermanides (Public Health), Minister C. de Weeever, Natasha Richardson (Labor Affairs), Daphne Illis (Collective Prevention Services), Selby Philips (Labour), Lysanne Charles (Social Development), Rose Fleming (Social Development).

firefighters CeleBrate 50 years of existeNCe

Group photo including Prime Minister Sarah Wescot Williams along with Firefighters and walkathon participants.

This year the Sint Maarten Fire Department is celebrating their 50th anniversary. The Friends of the Island Government Firefighters Foundation (FIGFFF) is busy organizing different functions throughout the year. In celebrating this mile stone the foundation plans to organize a year of activities.

On Saturday March 2nd the FIGFFF held its annual walkathon which started at the Fire & Ambulance Station in Cay Hill. The Prime Minister of Sint Maarten Sarah Wescot Williams and Minister of Education Culture Youth & Sports Silveria Jacobs showed their support for the foundation by participating in the event.

The FIGFFF-foundation is a nonprofit organization formed by Firefighters that want to contribute positively to the community. The planned activities will include: a family day

for the Firefighters, a sports competition and activities for school children. Additionally other activities will be held and contributeions will be made to charity. It is also the intention to organize a Mini - Olympics for all Emergency Services and Fire Departments from abroad.

A tentative program for the different activities during the Firefighters Week and the whole year will be distributed. Two of the biggest events is the Fireman’s Ball that will be on April 6th 2013 and the 50th Anniversary Celebration which is planned for the month of October 2013.

For the Fireman’s Ball the band Oreo from Aruba and the band Three Cylinder from Antigua, will be performing.

Contact Information:

Friends of the Island Government Fire Fighters Foundation

Address: Jackal Road No 5,

St. Maarten

Tel.: 5431316

Fax: 5426526

Bank: RBTT 620.23.32.00.231

DCOMM Contact Information:

Phone: 543-1162 / 542-4119 • Fax: 543-1169Email: DCOMM@sintmaartengov.org | Website: www.sintmaartengov.org

Ennia Building • Long Wall Road • Philipsburg

DepartmeNt of fiNaNCe uNveils New uNiforms

The Department of finance along with Minister of Finance Roland Tuitt unveiled new uniforms to the public of St. Maarten.

6 Civil servaNts CeleBrate 25 years of serviCe

Six Civil Servants from the Ministry Tourism, Economic Affairs, Traffic & Telecommunication (TEZVT) recently celebrated their 25th year with Government. Prime Minister Sarah Wescot-Williams is centered among the group. Front row: Acting Head of the Department of Inspection Martha Thewet, Prime Minister Sarah Wescot-Williams, Claudette Labega, O’neil Flanders. The row behind: Mario Hodge, Morvin Beauperthuy, Patricia Scatliffe, and Antonio Scatliffe.